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Find the best interest rate savings account

Get on top of your finances - find the best ISAs, easy access savings accounts and more.

Find the right savings account for your money

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Grow your money with a high interest savings account

Comparing Savings Accounts - an introduction

With interest rates stuck at a record low, it's more important than ever to compare savings accounts to maximise returns on your money.

Even with rates at rock bottom, putting in the legwork to find the best interest rate savings account still pays off.

Whether you're looking to set up a children's savings account, or start saving for retirement, getting your head around instant access savings, cash ISAs, peer-to-peer accounts and fixed rate savings accounts will help you get the best return on your money.

Weigh up the best interest rates and term length and use our calculator to work out how much money each savings account will earn you.

What types of savings account are available?

The different types of savings account available can be bamboozling.

Here's the lowdown:

Easy access accounts - the most popular and likely to be deemed as the best savings account for first-time savers. Access your savings instantly but still earn interest on them.

Fixed rate bond accounts - savings accounts that typically pay a set rate of interest for a set period of time. You won't have the same access to your money as an instant access account, but you will likely get a better interest rate, particularly if you choose a fixed bond that lasts two years or more. Remember, you'll have to pay a fee to withdraw within the fixed term.

Peer-to-peer savings account - cuts out the middleman and matches lenders with borrowers. Riskier because you can lose money, but can land you a higher interest rate.

Cash ISAs - everyone gets an annual tax-free ISA allowance. The ISA allowance for 2017/18 is £20,000, so you can invest any sum up to that cap and avoid tax on interest earned. This could end up getting you one of the best interest rates!

Fixed rate cash ISAs - guarantees a fixed amount of interest for a set period of time. This could be the best ISAif you have money you can afford to bank for a few years.

Help to Buy ISAs - designed to help you save for a deposit on your first home. This savings account is tax free and the government will top up anything you save by 25%, up to a limit of £3,000 on £12,000 savings.

Internet accounts - run entirely over the web. Because the bank's costs are lower, they can offer competitive interest rates. Not for technophobes.

Specialist accounts - accounts targeted at a specific group, for example the over-50s or young people.

What should I look out for when comparing savings rates?

When comparing savings rates, look at the AER (Annual Equivalent Rate) to work out how much money you will get on top of your savings each month.

The higher the AER, the more interest you'll earn.

Then ask yourself how much you can afford to save each month. If you're able to grow your savings without plundering your balance, you might think about opening a fixed-rate savings account.

Next, look at the length of the savings rate on offer. How long will the bank guarantee that rate for? Can you afford to lock away your money for that length of time?

Or do you need to be able to access your cash reserves?

ARE YOU ON THE BEST RATE?

Fixed-rate accounts v instant access savings accounts

Fixed-rate savings accounts will typically offer better savings rates because you have to lock in your money with that bank for a longer period of time.

If the Bank of England raises interest rates, your fixed AER will go down in value. But if interest rates are lowered, your AER will become more valuable.

Instant access accounts are less risky than fixed-term savings accounts, but typically offer a lower AER.

The clue to the chief perk of instant access accounts is in the name: you can get your hands on your money immediately, while still earning interest.

Bear in mind that the interest you earn will fall if you withdraw money.

Some current accounts will offer interest rates on a par, if not better than, instant access savings accounts, so make sure you scour the market to find the best interest rate deal.

Certain banks will offer higher interest rates if you make the account your main bank account - the account your salary goes into and all your Direct Debits are paid from.

ISA savings accounts and fixed-rate ISAs

We mentioned ISAs earlier but they deserve a lengthier explanation.

ISA stands for Individual Savings Account and is a tax-free savings account.

Where most accounts will automatically have 20% taken off from the interest credited to your balance, an ISA will give you the full interest earned on balances up to £20,000 (for the financial year 17/18).

Instant access ISAs allow you to withdraw money without charge, while fixed rate ISAs lock up your money for a set period of time - typically fixed deals offer the best ISA rates.

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